Policy on the Final Authority of the Committee on Admissions
Background
LCME Element 10.2 requires that the "final responsibility for accepting medical students" rest with a formally constituted admission committee, with specified authority, composition, and rules of operation.
Policy
The Committee on Admissions (COA) has final authority for determining the acceptance of all candidates for the MD degree at Washington University School of Medicine. The COA is assembled by the Associate Dean for Admissions and is drawn from the faculty and staff of the School of Medicine, with the majority drawn from the full-time faculty.
Final decisions for acceptance of an applicant during the regular season (prior to May 1) are made at the final acceptance meeting of the COA. Five voting COA members representing the diversity of the faculty who hold non-decanal positions with at least one member from each region must be present at the final acceptance meeting. The majority of voting members present must be members of the faculty for a quorum to be reached. After May 1 during the waitlist phase, final decisions are made by the Leadership Subcommittee on behalf of the COA.
The selection of individual medical students is not influenced by political or financial factors, in accordance with our policies on external factors and conflicts of interest.
Last approved on August 12, 2021